A unique and distinctive culture emerges from the Burning Man experience. Rooted in the values expressed by the Ten Principles, this culture is manifested around the globe through art, communal effort, and innumerable individual acts of self-expression. To many, it is a way of life.

You just go to the Lamplighters and sign up on the white board at about five in the afternoon. This was my third year volunteering with them and it's always a pleasure. Yeah, it can be hard work, too ...but it's work that most everybody is capable of and you meet some cool folks.

I was a Lamp Lighter this year during the Monday dust storm. It was very surreal and a memorable experience. Plan on spending about 3.5 to 4 hours.

With the wind, I wondered if solar-powered LEDs might be a good substitute for the kerosene lamps. I'm a romantic and the thought of losing the flickering flames doesnt sound too good, but most of our lamps we hung had been blown out by the wind before we could get them on the lamp posts

I don't speak officially for Lamplighters, but I camped there last year, and had an absolute blast.

To volunteer, just come by around when the sun is getting close to the western mountain ridge - I think about 4:30. We're located somewhere in Center Camp, usually behind the Cafe'. Look for Lamplighter Temple.

The first task each night is cleaning and prepping lamps. To do this, you don't need to sign up anywhere, just ask someone and join in at the prep tables. Lamps are washed, filled with Kerosene, lit and staged every night prior to the procession.

If you want to be in the actual procession, you'll need to sign up. Somewhere, on a wall, you'll find a white board with a list of jobs and routes. Talk to the person manning the board, pick a route and a job.

Jobs in the actual procession are as follows:

Carrier: You get to carry 12 lit lanterns from a pole across your shoulders. I like to call this one "moving meditation" Very calming, but a little draining, physically. It's my favorite. Good upper body strength helps.

Hanger: You get to hang the lanterns on the spires. This is more activity - You're taking lanterns off the carry poles with a special hook, and then placing them up on the spires. hand-eye coordination is a plus.

Support: Assist the other two roles, keep lamps lit, be prepared to jump into the role of a hanger or carrier if someone gets tired. Requires a good working lighter. :)

Luminary: Reserved for experienced Lamplighters. Luminaries are the leaders of the different routes. The rest of the procession takes orders from the route luminary.

The routes are subject to change every year, but this is what happened in 2008:

Center Camp: Light the lamps in the Center Camp circle, and the Spires at 3, 6, and 9 around Center Camp. Good run for newbies - it's the shortest, and you don't have far to walk at the end.

10 O'Clock Promenade - Center Camp to 10 o'clock. The Promenade runs usually have the most visibility, the most positive energy, but are also the longest runs to make.

Temple - Light from the Man to the Temple. Probably the least amount of spectators, but very spiritual.

3 O'Clock - Light from the Man to 3 O'Clock, plus the 3 keyhole.

9 O'Clock - Light from the Man to 9 O'Clock, plus the 9 Keyhole.

The Temple, 3 O'Clock and 9 O'Clock processions got a ride out to the Man last year on a big flatbed truck.

There are also people helping with robes - the robes are all provided by Lamplighters, and they even help you take them off at the end of the night. I think the robing volunteers come from the camp itself, but I was never too clear on that.

Yeah, I drank the kerosene last year. I think I'm in for life now. :) It's FUN!

I DO speak for the lamplighters officially and you pretty much hit the nail of the head Gideon.

Yes Robes are provided/loaned for the route.
You can do prep and/or a route.
People that go out with us on a route get a charm.
On the longer routes now that the city is bigger, you either get a ride out, or a ride back.

Volunteers are always welcome every night. We couldn't do it without your help. Meet up at the "Lamplighter Chapel" at 5pm. You can't miss it.

Be aware the we are a "working" camp, so we go out just about every evening. We had a bit of a problem with slackers last year, so we're capping the camp this year at 180 people. Everyone brings food donations for the kitchen. Nothing beats coming back to camp after lighting a route to find an awesome meal waiting for you.

Badger
Luminary

Gideon wrote:Kerosene. Kerosene flavoured Kool-Aid. YUM.

I don't speak officially for Lamplighters, but I camped there last year, and had an absolute blast.

To volunteer, just come by around when the sun is getting close to the western mountain ridge - I think about 4:30. We're located somewhere in Center Camp, usually behind the Cafe'. Look for Lamplighter Temple.

The first task each night is cleaning and prepping lamps. To do this, you don't need to sign up anywhere, just ask someone and join in at the prep tables. Lamps are washed, filled with Kerosene, lit and staged every night prior to the procession.

If you want to be in the actual procession, you'll need to sign up. Somewhere, on a wall, you'll find a white board with a list of jobs and routes. Talk to the person manning the board, pick a route and a job.

Jobs in the actual procession are as follows:

Carrier: You get to carry 12 lit lanterns from a pole across your shoulders. I like to call this one "moving meditation" Very calming, but a little draining, physically. It's my favorite. Good upper body strength helps.

Lifter: You get to hang the lanterns on the spires. This is more activity - You're taking lanterns off the carry poles with a special hook, and then placing them up on the spires. hand-eye coordination is a plus.

Support: Assist the other two roles, keep lamps lit, be prepared to jump into the role of a hanger or carrier if someone gets tired. Requires a good working lighter.

Luminary: Reserved for experienced Lamplighters. Luminaries are the leaders of the different routes. The rest of the procession takes orders from the route luminary.

The routes are subject to change every year, but this is what happened in 2008:

Center Camp: Light the lamps in the Center Camp circle, and the Spires at 3, 6, and 9 around Center Camp. Good run for newbies - it's the shortest, and you don't have far to walk at the end.

10 O'Clock Promenade - Center Camp to 10 o'clock. The Promenade runs usually have the most visibility, the most positive energy, but are also the longest runs to make.

Temple - Light from the Man to the Temple. Probably the least amount of spectators, but very spiritual.

3 O'Clock - Light from the Man to 3 O'Clock, plus the 3 keyhole.

9 O'Clock - Light from the Man to 9 O'Clock, plus the 9 Keyhole.

The Temple, 3 O'Clock and 9 O'Clock processions got a ride out to the Man last year on a big flatbed truck.

There are also people helping with robes (Robe Tenders) - the robes are all provided by Lamplighters, and they even help you take them off at the end of the night. I think the robing volunteers come from the camp itself, but I was never too clear on that.

Yeah, I drank the kerosene last year. I think I'm in for life now. It's FUN!

Man, I was all psyched up to do Lamplighting this year, and then earlier this week I went and fractured my toe and a vertebrae in my back After reading this thread though, it sounds like I could still help out with prepping the lamps at least. Thanks for the info, Gideon!

As far as being in the procession, I guess there's always next year

*edited for spelling

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It's the ones who've cracked that the light shines through

sattelite5812 wrote:Man, I was all psyched up to do Lamplighting this year, and then earlier this week I went and fractured my toe and a vertebrae in my back After reading this thread though, it sounds like I could still help out with prepping the lamps at least. Thanks for the info, Gideon!